Questions loom large for Stockton in the coming year

The two-month period between an important election and when those elected either take office or start their next term is a time to ponder the future.

Mike Klocke

The two-month period between an important election and when those elected either take office or start their next term is a time to ponder the future.

And there are so many other issues and trends impacting our area not even related to the election.

With that in mind, let's play 20 Questions - Stockton style.

1. Will the redistricting that local officials lobbied for - and The Record editorialized in favor of - truly benefit San Joaquin County? We now have largely "whole" districts for San Joaquin County all filled by Democrats (Jerry McNerney in Congress, Cathleen Galgiani in the state Senate and Susan Eggman in the state Assembly). We'll find out if one voice is truly better than two, three or four for individual seats.

2. Will Stockton City Manager Bob Deis stay? It probably wouldn't be in Stockton's best interests to have another driver midway through this bankruptcy journey. But Deis is likely to keep the council - and the community - guessing until he makes a commitment one way or the other.

3. Is the bankruptcy declaration going to turn out to be a city-saving move or a death knell to further problems?

4. What degree of "hardball" will creditors take with Stockton going forward? We've seen a bit of everything so far.

5. What tact will newly elected Mayor Anthony Silva take in his dealings with Deis, other council members and the public? Is he going to grab the leadership role in a positive manner? Will he get the respect of officials that he obviously got from voters?

6. What will be the new "dynamic" for the Stockton City Council with Silva, Moses Zapien and Michael Tubbs coming on board? The old dynamic was clear - 6 on 1 with outgoing Dale Fritchen outnumbered.

7. Can we get more police officers on the increasingly unsafe streets of Stockton?

8. What can be done to make real inroads into solving Stockton's gang problems?

9. Can we stem the tide of experienced officers leaving for other cities because of pay, benefits or safer working conditions? The Stockton-to-Monterey pipeline is easy to understand from the viewpoint of those who've left SPD. It's a troubling trend, though.

10. Will some of the recent signs continue and will there be an economic turnaround for Stockton that can quell its numbing unemployment rate of 15 percent or greater?

11. Can the real estate market get sustained progress so we can recapture many of our neighborhoods that have been left pockmarked with foreclosures?

12. Can Stockton hit a new-business home run? It's great that Tracy is drawing Amazon and 1,000 high paying jobs to a new facility there. Stockton needs something similar.

13. But can such a coup truly happen if the crime rate, education level and community image continue to suffer? All three problems must be diligently attacked. Companies don't embrace such factors.

14. Will the progress - seemingly steady after years of relative dormancy - continue with new shows and events being booked at Stockton Arena?

15. Will drivers - both residents and those passing through - continue to be patient while the long-term work continues on Interstate 5? This is short-term pain that will lead to long-term gain.

16. Will 2013 be the year something concrete (pun intended) happens with regard to the future conveyance of water through the San Joaquin Delta? Or will it be another year of lawyer talk and official jabbering?

17. After 25 years of stability under Bob Thomason, will University of the Pacific hire from inside or outside for its next head basketball coach as the school prepares a conference upgrade from the Big West to the West Coast Conference?

18. Will Stockton and area nonprofits continue to be funded well enough to serve at the level needed to help those who are struggling?

19. Will Delta College have the funds to serve at the level this community needs it to serve?

20. Will those thousands of people who embrace Stockton, despite its woes, continue to be so fervent in their love for a city that needs to be loved?

Contact Record Editor Mike Klocke at (209) 546-8250 or mklocke@recordnet.com.